Lead of Security Innovation & Transformation

As part of MetLife’s Global Security team, you’ll work alongside world-class experts to protect MetLife, our customers and our colleagues. The team is responsible for managing cybersecurity, IT risks and vulnerabilities, physical security, and more. In this fast-paced, mission-driven environment, you’ll join outstanding teammates to expand your skills, collaborate across the organization and implement innovative approaches to safeguard MetLife when it matters most. Ready to make an impact? Join us if you want to embrace the rapidly evolving environment and use transformative technology to integrate and build security into the foundation of key initiatives across MetLife.

The Lead, Security Innovation & Transformation is a senior individual contributor responsible for shaping the future of MetLife's security capabilities by identifying, evaluating, and piloting emerging technologies that advance our global security posture. This role sits within the Security Business Office and operates at the intersection of technology, strategy, and execution — translating market innovation into practical security outcomes.

This is a high-visibility, influence-driven role with no direct reports. The right candidate leads through expertise, credibility, and the ability to build coalitions across Security Architecture, Program Management, and enterprise stakeholders.

Security Technology Innovation

• Scout and evaluate emerging security technologies — including AI/ML-driven security tools, automation platforms, zero-trust frameworks, and next-generation detection and response capabilities — for applicability to MetLife's environment.
• Own the innovation pipeline: from horizon scanning and proof-of-concept design through pilot execution and recommendation for scaled adoption.
• Develop structured evaluation frameworks that assess new tools against security, operational, financial, and architectural criteria.
• Partner with Security Architecture to ensure innovation efforts align with enterprise design principles and long-term capability roadmaps.

Transformation Enablement

• Identify opportunities where technology can accelerate or simplify delivery of the global security strategy
• Translate emerging threat intelligence and industry trends into concrete capability gaps and investment recommendations.
• Contribute to multi-year security transformation roadmaps, providing the innovation perspective that informs sequencing and prioritization decisions.
• Build business cases for technology investments, including ROI modeling and risk-reduction framing suitable for executive audiences.

Ecosystem & Intelligence

• Maintain active relationships with security vendors, startups, research institutions, and industry bodies (e.g., CISA, FS-ISAC, Gartner) to stay ahead of the innovation curve.
• Represent MetLife's security interests in external forums, conferences, and working groups.
• Synthesize market intelligence into actionable internal briefings for security leadership and business stakeholders.

Cross-Functional Influence

• Serve as a trusted advisor to the Security Business Office, Program Management, and Architecture teams on technology trends and their strategic implications.
• Work alongside Security Program Management to ensure innovation pilots are scoped, tracked, and handed off cleanly for broader deployment.
• Communicate complex technical concepts clearly to both technical peers and non-technical executives.

• 10+ years of progressive experience in information security, with demonstrated focus on security strategy, technology evaluation, or security architecture. 
• Proven track record of driving security technology innovation in a large enterprise or financial services environment
• Experience leading proof-of-concept or pilot programs for security technologies, from selection through evaluation and recommendation
• Background working in or alongside a Security Business Office, CISO office, or enterprise security transformation function preferred.

• Strong working knowledge across security domains: identity & access management, cloud security, threat detection & response, data protection, and security automation.
• Familiarity with AI/ML applications in security (e.g., UEBA, generative AI for threat analysis, automated response).
• Understanding of zero-trust architecture principles and major security frameworks (NIST CSF, ISO 27001, MITRE ATT&CK).

The expected salary range for this position is $200,000 - $235,000. This role may also be eligible for annual short-term incentive compensation and stock-based long-term incentives. All incentives and benefits are subject to the applicable plan terms.